Too hot for Spot: keep pets safe when temperatures rise

The Marin Humane Society rescued two dogs today from dangerously hot vehicles parked at the Village in Corte Madera and at Vintage Oaks in Novato.

Even though your urge may be to take your furry pals everywhere, during hot weather, the best thing you can do is leave them at home with plenty of fresh drinking water. (I’ve been throwing ice cubes in The Doone’s bowl every hour or so to keep it cold.) It’s also a good idea to limit outdoor activities until evening when everything — including potentially scorching sidewalks — have had a chance to cool off.

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A hot car acts like an oven and can put your dog’s health at risk.

Because not every dog is clever enough to honk the horn, if you see an unattended animal in a car on a sweltering day, don’t assume that she will be okay without your help. If you are near a store, go inside and ask an employee to page the owner of the vehicle over the loud-speaker. You can also call the police who will remove a distressed animal from the vehicle using whatever means necessary.

Just remember, time is of the essence! A car’s interior can reach 160 degrees in just a few minutes, even in the shade with the windows cracked. With no ability to cool themselves, the trapped animals are at risk of suffering from brain damage, heat stroke and even death.

In related news, last month the Sonoma Humane Society launched its new “Paw Gauge,” which records and posts the current temperature inside a car parked in the humane society parking lot on its website. The idea behind the invention is to help local residents determine if it’s safe to bring their dog with them as they run errands around town.